All posts by z3u9t.icu

According to a report from TEAMtalk, West Ham United and GSB are in talks to sign young Fulham defender Ibane Bowat as his current deal expires in June – with negotiations having been ‘ongoing’ over the last few weeks as the Hammers attempt to snap him up.

Bowat has been a mainstay for Fulham’s Under-18s side since putting pen to paper on a two-year scholarship back in 2019, assisting the Cottagers in their Premier League South title win last campaign.

West Ham in talks for Bowat

As a result, Fulham are keen to keep hold of the ‘classy’ 6 foot 2 defender and have offered him a professional deal to sign in June – but now West Ham are eager to take him away and are in talks over a move.

The Irons are one of a number of clubs that are in contact, with Brighton, Arsenal and Everton all having talks recently as well as German side FC Koln – even though it is understood the Bundesliga side could not agree terms.

Transfer Tavern take

Predominantly a centre-half, the versatile 18-year-old can also play left-back upon requirement, a prospect of his game that may have attracted the Irons.

Despite signing fellow promising centre-back Frederik Alves from Silkeborg in January, West Ham are now in conversation with another defensive starlet, and it remains to be seen whether they will win the race for his signature.

In other news: West Ham fans erupted over this news, find out more here.

Aston Villa fans were far from happy with the performance of Bertrand Traore during their 0-0 draw with Brighton on Saturday night.

It was a tough evening for the Villans at the AMEX Stadium – the Seagulls managed 26 shots to their four, while the hosts amassed 58% possession. Emilianio Martinez, with a SofaScore rating of 9.4, was easily the man of the match as he kept Dean Smith’s side in the game on a number of occasions.

Traore struggled in particular. He won just one of his six duels and completed a poor 75% of his passes. After this display, Smith will likely be deliberating whether he deserves to start the next game, against Leicester City on Sunday.

These Villa fans were angry with his showing, and they took to social media platform Twitter to share their thoughts on the £11.7m-valued 25-year-old (Transfermarkt).

Let’s see what the fans had to say about Traore below

“I am very disappointed with Barkley AGAIN!! and Traore!!! Absolutely disgusting performances. I love my club and to watch them play like that is not acceptable. If I was lucky enough to pull on the claret and blue jersey, I would give everything I could to win!!”

Credit: @IronhideRage

“Why is Traore still on the pitch? Busing me this, he has been utter tripe tonight”

Credit: @SeamusORobson

“Just in the interests of fairness, Traore has also been absolutely appalling tonight too.”

Credit: @Alex_Berwick

“Barkley does not deserve a start firstly. IMO Luis has been average (at best) for weeks. When Traore is bad, he absolutely stinks. Too many with a lack of the basic effort required tonight. Changes in the starting line up required. Earn your place.”

Credit: @villahagler69

“Yeah absolutely. Not so much Watkins, difficult if you get no service at all. Jack has to get smarter, teams will see how to play him. Traore useless when we’re on the back foot. Nobody is convincing me Barkley on recent performances deserves a start because he’s Ross Barkley!”

Credit: @stevejsimkins

“You have to wonder. Utter rubbish. Grealish, Barkley, Traore, McGinn looked like they were on Blackpool beach. Leaving Watkins totally out of it.”

Credit: @WorrallLes

In other news, this former Villa player provides an injury update on man not yet seen this term.

According to Football Insider, Glasgow Rangers value Glen Kamara at more than £10m and will not accept anything less for the Finland international this summer.

Kamara value soars

The Gers signed Kamara for a fee of just £50,000 in January 2019 (Daily Record) – his value has therefore soared by more than 1,000%.

If the Gers are to sell this summer, the report says they will demand an eight-figure fee for the 24-year-old.

On the rise

Kamara has grown into one of Steven Gerrard’s most important players. He has appeared in 38 games in all competitions this season, scoring two goals (Transfermarkt), and has made the Ibrox outfit calm and composed in the middle of the park. He has also enjoyed success with his national team, helping the Finns reach the European Championships for the first time in their history.

As such, the £50,000 the Gers paid to Dundee to purchase him two years ago looks like one of the deals of the century. Scottish football is still somewhat behind the top leagues in Europe, so star players are always likely to leave for pastures new. When that happens, all Ross Wilson and co can do is try and secure the best possible sum – £10m would represent a huge profit for the 54-time Scottish champions.

In other news, Rangers are set to do battle with Arsenal for this ace.

The Aston Villa train just doesn’t look like it’s coming to a halt anytime soon.

Dean Smith’s side have been the undisputed surprise packages of the new Premier League season, flying high with some big victories away against the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal already.

They kept up their recent hot streak with a superb 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, made all the more impressive given the fact Tyrone Mings got himself sent off late on in the first-half.

Such is the hectic nature of the Christmas schedule, Villa find themselves playing again within the space of two days, travelling to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea.

Smith is likely to ring the changes to try and keep things fresh and ensure his players don’t pick up any unnecessary injuries, and with that in mind, below is a look at just how Villa might line up for the clash.

In goal, Emiliano Martinez kept yet another clean sheet, and his performances may even take another step up given the fact Tom Heaton finally returned to the first-team squad following a lengthy injury.

With Mings of course suspended, Smith will no doubt bring Ezri Konsa back into the fold, and he is likely to partner Kortney Hause in the centre of defence, with regulars Matty Cash and Matt Targett either side of them.

In midfield, Douglas Luiz might finally get a rest given the amount of football he has played this season for both club and country, and Marvelous Nakamba is on standby to play.

Further ahead, Jacob Ramsey has seen some first-team action already this season, and could be given the chance to start again in that number ten role, with Jack Grealish on the left and Bertrand Traore on the right – the in-form Anwar El Ghazi may be seen as a weapon to use off the bench against Chelsea to try and keep things fresh for Villa.

Predicted XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Hause, Targett; Nakamba, McGinn; Traore, Ramsey, Grealish, Watkins.

If you search for ‘consistency’ in the dictionary, you might well find Stuart Dallas’ name.

The versatile Leeds man defines reliability wherever he plays and he has become one of the first names on the team sheet under Marcelo Bielsa.

The Argentine has taken Dallas’ performances to a level that even the player probably didn’t think he’d reach, going from a bit part member of the squad under Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom to a major player in their promotion-winning campaign.

Dallas appeared 45 times in the Championship last season, playing in a whole host of positions. He won their Player’s Player of the Season award and in the process, scored five goals and registered three assists.

On top of that, the Northern Irishman played in four different roles – at left-back, right-back, right wing and in the middle of the park.

It was a stellar season for Dallas who has continued in a similar light this term, bagging three goals, all from full-back.

Though, what if we were to tell you that the Whites could soon unearth his long-term successor? Well, it would be particularly exciting.

It was revealed last week that Leeds were interested in signing young Liverpool talent Yasser Larouci.

The Algerian is just 20 years of age but has tremendous versatility, leading us to believe that he’d be a potential dream signing for Bielsa.

The Leeds boss loves a versatile player and you only need to look at Dallas, as well as the likes of Kalvin Phillips and Gjanni Alioski to understand that.

The latter can play at full-back, in the middle or out wide, while Phillips has played in defensive midfield and at centre-back this season.

Larouci, however, can play in even more roles. Throughout his short career to date, the youngster has played in six different positions.

Although he’s made just two senior outings to date, he’s featured as a centre-forward on one occasion, on the right wing, further back on the right of midfield, left midfield and in both full-back roles during his youth career.

The Liverpool gem is a defender by trade, however, and his sheer athleticism reminds us of Dallas – someone who uses his tenacity and quick thinking to get forward.

Speaking about Larouci previously, Liverpool’s former U18s boss, Barry Lewtas once remarked:

“He is lightning quick and a real good personality. Because he is so quick it helps in his one-v-one defending, he is aggressive and is good when he runs into the big spaces and he arrives well in terms of forward runs.”

That sounds an awful lot like Dallas. His aforementioned goal record dictates that he’s good at arriving late in the penalty area, while he is supremely adept at dealing with one-on-one situations.

For example, the defender has won 2.6 tackles per game in 2020/21 – a tally bettered only by Phillips in terms of Leeds’ regular starters.

Finding someone similar in Larouci, therefore, is rare. He’d be a great pick up from Victor Orta and his recruitment team.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Roberts: Leeds can fix one of Bielsa’s big problems with swoop for £5k-p/w gem…

Dean Smith could lose his beloved Douglas Luiz after reports emerged Serie A heavyweights Juventus have been offered the chance to sign the Aston Villa midfielder.

What’s the word?

According to TuttoMercatoWEB, Juve are keen to improve the core of Andrea Pirlo’s side at the Allianz Stadium, feeling the Italy icon has neglected the engine room this year.

Juventus parted ways with Miralem Pjanic and Blaise Matuidi in the summer and are expected to listen to offers for Sami Khedira in January, but without replacing the outcast trio with players who can provide personality, experience or charisma.

Top of Sporting Director Fabio Paratici’s shopping list is Sassuolo’s 22-year-old leader Manuel Locatelli, but a €40million (£36m) asking price has been deemed too extravagant after negotiations in the summer.

Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira, currently on loan with Atletico Madrid, has also been considered but without any enthusiasm, while intermediaries have proposed Luiz as a potential option after impressing with Aston Villa since joining Dean Smith’s side in 2019.

Though a €25m (£22.5m) valuation and Manchester City holding a buy-back clause appears to have resulted in little interest from the Turin outfit, who sit six points behind Serie A leaders AC Milan after nine games.

Exit signals

With it unspecified who put forward Luiz as a potential option to improve Pirlo’s midfield, rumours of the player being touted around to Europe’s elite should spark concern at Villa Park that Smith may soon lose a beloved member of his plans.

Luiz has started all nine of the Villans’ Premier League fixtures thus far this season and opened 28 of 36 appearances last term following a £15m move from Man City, where the five-time Brazil international had never featured in a competitive fixture.

Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues hold a buy-back clause valued at £30m and could look fondly on the 22-year-old’s form in Birmingham in the future, though Smith noted recently that he does not fear an approach any time soon as he waxed lyrical over the midfielder’s talent.

“He’s done really well for Brazil,” Smith said, via quotes by BirminghamLive. “There’s been talk about a buy-back option. I’m not aware of it, I don’t deal with contracts. I deal with the players.

“What I know is Douglas Luiz is loving his time at Aston Villa and getting better and better. He’s performing very well for Brazil, as well. Long may that continue. Next summer’s a long way off for me, we’ve got 31 games in the Premier League left still so I’m concentrating on that.”

Luiz has averaged 4.3 duels won per Premier League game this season, plus 1.2 interceptions, 0.9 successful tackles, 0.9 clearances, 36.3 accurate passes and been credited with one assist, per SofaScore.

AND in other news: “It’s the perfect fit” – Exclusive: Pundit urges Wes Edens to sign 26-y/o superstar for Aston Villa.

Mike Ashley must sanction a January swoop for KV Oostende forward Fashion Sakala amid reports the Newcastle United target has his heart set on a move to the Premier League.

What’s the word?

According to The Sun (13/12, p. 59), Sakala is eying a fairy-tale deal to play in England in 2021 with Newcastle and West Ham United believed to be keen.

The Toon and Hammers were linked with interest in the 23-year-old attacker this summer, with claims Sakala’s change in representatives to Wasserman saw the LA-based group push for a move to the Premier League or Spain’s La Liga.

Sevilla were also believed to be showing an interest in Sakala’s situation after he struck eight goals in 28 Jupiler Pro League fixtures last season, but no deal was secured for the £1.08million-rated man who has struck home five in 14 Belgian top-flight games this term.

Sakala has now found the back of the net 20 times for Oostende across all competitions since moving to the Diaz Arena in 2018, where he is proving to be a vastly versatile forward with appearances and goals at striker and on both wings.

The nine-cap Zambia international is widely lauded for his pace, skill and lively presence, which Oostende sorely missed as they were beaten 3-1 by Kortrijk at the end of last month.

Dream for Wilson

Ashley sanctioning a move to sign Sakala in January, against reports the Newcastle owner is opposed to any permanent deals, would see the Toon acquire a January dream for summer arrival Callum Wilson.

The ex-Bournemouth marksman has hit the ground running since joining the Magpies for £20million, with Wilson boasting seven goals in 10 games to account for 50% of the total 14 scored by Newcastle players in the Premier League – the second-highest contribution rate.

But Wilson will soon feel the strain of carrying the Toon’s offence under Steve Bruce, who is in dire need of offensive reinforcements with no other player yet to find the back of the net more than once in black and white this term, including Joelinton who has just seven in 57 appearances in total for United.

Sakala can take some of the offensive burden away from Wilson, though, as teams would struggle to contain both the free-scoring 28-year-old and the lively presence the Zambia international would bring.

Add in the eventual reappearance of star forward Allan Saint-Maximin, who is yet to return to training, and Bruce would have vastly different attacking options than those used for the system he currently favours but is coming under fierce criticism.

“I’m bored of watching Newcastle, they bore me. It’s like they’re grinding out results,” former Toon midfielder Kieron Dyer told Sky Sports via quotes by talkSPORT. “Newcastle were the entertainers. Let’s try to score some goals, go blow for blow and get some excitement back.”

Sakala may not single-handly bring 20-goals-a-season to St. James’ Park but alongside Wilson, will help to bring the excitement back to Tyneside in a lively attacking duo.

AND in other news: “Typical Newcastle” – Exclusive: Rob Lee drops fresh £300m takeover claim.

Carlo Ancelotti must hand Everton’s promising youth defender Niels Nkounkou a rare chance to impress against Liverpool this Saturday with Seamus Coleman a major doubt for the Merseyside Derby.

Coleman was forced off in the Toffees’ last Premier League fixture, having sustained a hamstring strain during the closing stages of their 4-2 win at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The issue was only considered to be “small” at the time, with Ancelotti noting via quotes by RTE that it was the same issue sustained against West Ham United in the Carabao Cup, but Coleman has since been forced to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland’s squad for their October internationals including a European Championship qualifying play-off.

Now, the Liverpool Echo suggest Coleman is a worry for Everton’s next league clash, which could spark a crisis at Finch Farm as Ancelotti seeks a potential right-back answer.

Tom Davies slotted in to fill the full-back role against Brighton having started the affair in midfield, though Ancelotti would likely favour a more natural alternative against Liverpool if Coleman is forced to sit out the Merseyside Derby.

But the Italian coach will have a slack list of options elsewhere in his squad with Jonjoe Kenny out for around four weeks after twisting his ankle in the EFL Cup win over West Ham, leaving summer signing Nkounkou an unlikely but necessary option to face the Premier League champions.

Nkounkou, who joined the Toffees on a free transfer from Olympique de Marseille in July, is naturally a left-back who can also play in midfield, yet may be forced into making his English top-flight debut at home to the title-holders to cover for the developing injury crisis.

Ancelotti named the 19-year-old on the bench against Brighton and has awarded him starting roles in each of the Toffees’ three Carabao Cup wins to date, in which he assisted Everton’s fifth of the night against Fleetwood Town deep into stoppage-time.

Blues Director of Football Marcel Brands lauded the potential Nkounkou brought to Merseyside upon his capture this summer, noting via quotes by The Times: “Niels is a young, talented player with good technical and physical skills.

“We have been following him for months. Hopefully, he can learn a lot from Lucas Digne and Leighton Baines, as well as Carlo Ancelotti and David Unsworth, and follow the same pathway into the first-team the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Mason Holgate have taken in recent years.”

Nkounkou displayed that potential against West Ham in his only taste of Premier League competition as he accepted a more defensive-minded role up against Andriy Yarmolenko, who he kept to just the single effort on goal thanks to four tackles, one clearance, one block, one interception and four ground duel wins, while completing 38 of 42 attempted passes, per SofaScore.

Ancelotti will be aware that Nkounkou is not the ideal option, but the Italian may accept that the former France U19 international is the only option if Coleman cannot play against Liverpool.

AND in other news, a £90k-p/w Everton ace offered an ineffective cameo appearance during the October international break.

Pablo Fornals has dealt West Ham United a titanic blow ahead of facing Sheffield United on Sunday after stating why he favours playing with Michail Antonio over Sebastien Haller.

What’s he said?

While speaking with the Irons’ official club website, Fornals has noted how Antonio has the ability to make attacks easy as all the Spanish midfielder has to do is pick him out, knowing the centre-forward can do the rest.

Antonio has often been praised by manager David Moyes for his relentless workrate as the spearhead of West Ham’s frontline, in a role the Hammers chief does not feel Haller has the ability to match when played in a one-striker formation.

Moyes has persisted with a single central attacker since returning to the London Stadium to succeed Manuel Pellegrini, with the 57-year-old only naming two centre-forwards in five fixtures across all competitions during his current 31-match run at the helm.

The Scottish coach is unlikely to favour a change in tack when West Ham visit Sheffield United on Sunday, with Moyes already backed to name Haller as his starting striker with Antonio only among the substitutes following his hamstring injury.

Doing so could see Fornals struggle in his search for a third assist of the top-flight season, having noted the reasons why he favours lining up behind Antonio rather than Haller.

“We are close friends, not just outside the pitch but on it too, where all of you can see how both of us enjoy playing together,” Fornals said while smiling.

“I always say that in whatever team I play for, I want to play with a player like Mikey because, for me, he makes it so easy to play with him. I just have to find his body [with the ball], because if I find his body, I know we will have the ball for a second chance.”

The last time Moyes named two strikers in a starting line-up for a Premier League fixture came in March’s 1-0 loss at Arsenal to extend a winless run with multiple centre-forwards, along with a 2-0 defeat at Manchester City and a 4-1 drubbing by Leicester, plus a 1-0 loss to West Brom after a 2-0 win over Gillingham in the FA Cup.

Titanic blow for Moyes

With Moyes already backed to favour handing Haller, who has largely flopped so far with 12 goals in 44 matches following a £45m move in 2019, his third start of the Premier League season, Fornals’ comments may come as a titanic blow to both him and West Ham’s hope of beating Sheffield United this weekend.

In the two full top-flight fixtures the Irons have contended since losing Antonio, Fornals has failed to register any key balls, deliver an accurate cross, connect a long pass, has lost possession 24 times, made just two successful dribbles, directed two shots on target and won three of his 10 ground duels, per SofaScore.

Moyes even saw enough from Fornals that he hauled the £67,308-per-week midfielder off after 72-minutes against Fulham while West Ham continued to search for a breakthrough goal.

It was a performance that will have left a shoddy impression on the Hammers boss, who has previously urged Fornals to deliver consistent performances as he can typify the energy the Scot wants from his players.

“He is a really likeable boy, and he works incredibly hard for the team,” Moyes said, via quotes by the West Ham website. “We are always demanding more from him because we want him to contribute with assists and goals and he has been doing that.

“He’s been more involved, and I have to say, his energy and enthusiasm in training is incredible and we really like him. What we have got here is the slight makings of a young group of players who are all doing well and giving us a much bigger energy than in the past.”

AND in other news, a West Ham gem with his “best years ahead of him” has been tipped for David Moyes’ axe this January.

West Bromwich Albion’s start to life back in the Premier League couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start and now they must push ahead with signing one of their summer transfer targets before the window closes next month.

Over a week ago, Football Insider claimed the Baggies were in ‘advanced talks’ to clinch Huddersfield Town striker Karlan Grant in an initial £16m deal, but it’s gone a tad quiet on that front since.

Slaven Bilic ought to push forward for that move at all costs considering just how poor his Albion side were against Leicester City at the Hawthorns on Sunday.

The Croatian elected for Callum Robinson to lead the line despite being used as a winger for much of his loan spell in the Championship last term and it’s a move that failed to pay off.

During his 60 minutes on the pitch, the 25-year-old failed to even have a shot at goal nor did he attempt to have a dribble. He was also caught offside twice, per SofaScore.

Hal Robson-Kanu was then called upon over Charlie Austin whilst there wasn’t even a place in the matchday squad for Kenneth Zohore.

It’s ever so clear that they need a goalscorer to feed off the attacking nucleus of Grady Diangana and Matheus Pereira.

The aforementioned report claims the Baggies are confident in securing Grant, so what is taking so long?

He’s been able to elevate his game onto every level each time he’s been faced with a move up the English pyramid, culminating in 19 goals and four assists for a relegation-threatened Huddersfield Town.

Grant’s former Charlton boss Lee Bowyer claims he “causes problems and scores goals” whilst ex-teammate Tommy Elphick believes he has “got everything” to succeed, as per The Totally Football Show.

This move is an absolute no-brainer, so it’s on Luke Dowling to pull his finger out and get this one over the line as soon as possible – Everton and Chelsea are next up.

AND in other news, West Brom struggling to reach an agreement for key Bilic target…